Keith Olbermann and Current TV Parting Ways - Olbermann Fired Again

Apparently, this isn't going to be a nice break-up.  The Gorical doesn't think he should have to pay out the balance of his contract worth about an additional $40 million.  Eliot Spitzer will be taking Olbie's time slot starting tonight at 8 pm.  

We created Current to give voice to those Americans who refuse to rely on corporate-controlled media and are seeking an authentic progressive outlet.  We are more committed to those goals today than ever before.

Current was also founded on the values of respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers. Unfortunately these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann and we have ended it.

We are moving ahead by honoring Current’s values. Current has a fundamental obligation to deliver news programming with a progressive perspective that our viewers can count on being available daily — especially now, during the presidential election campaign. Current exists because our audience desires the kind of perspective, insight and commentary that is not easily found elsewhere in this time of big media consolidation.

As we move toward this summer’s political conventions and the general election in the fall, Current is making significant new additions to our broadcasts.  We have just debuted six hours of new programming each weekday with Bill Press (“Full Court Press, at 6 am ET/3 am PT) and Stephanie Miller (“Talking Liberally,” at 9 am ET/6 pm PT).

We’re very excited to announce that beginning tonight, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer will host “Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer,” at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.  Eliot is a veteran public servant and an astute observer of the issues of the day. He has important opinions and insights and he relishes the kind of constructive discourse that our viewers will appreciate this election year.  We are confident that our viewers will be able to count on Governor Spitzer to deliver critical information on a daily basis.

All of these additions to Current’s lineup are aimed at achieving one simple goal — thegoal that has always been central to Current’s mission:  To tell stories no one else will tell, to speak truth to power, and to influence the conversation of democracy on behalf of those whose voice is too seldom heard.  We, and everyone at Current, want to thank our viewers for their continued steadfast support.

Sincerely,

Al Gore & Joel Hyatt
Current’s Founders

10 Years Later - President Bush Wins

It has been 10 years since the Supreme Court ruled on Bush V. Gore.  The case that made George W. Bush the 43rd president of the United States.  Much has been made of this case and at the time many thought it was the Supreme Court that was deciding the election.  Of course this isn't true, but it did cast a shadow over the Bush presidency that never really went away.

Now, I didn't vote for President Bush in 2000.  At that time Virginia was solidly red as far as presidential elections went, so that freed me up to vote my conscience.  I had issues that I couldn't get passed and didn't allow me to pull the lever for President Bush the first time around.  To be honest I don't remember who I voted for, and it is possible that I just left that blank.  I have done that before and I am sure that the occasion will arise that I will do it again. 

So much of narrative of what happened during this election is completely false and has continued for the past ten years.  The decision that really ended the election was a 7-2 decision not 5-4 that many people think that it was.  The decision that really ended it was about Florida using different sets of standards in order to do the recounts.  (Bush V. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board) Which clearly violates the constitution on the grounds of equal protection under the law.  Vice President Gore and his legal team wanted to use different sets of standards depending on which county you lived in.  He cherry picked heavily democratic counties for the recount and tried to change the rules on what constituted a legal vote.  Federal law requires that the law for how a vote is to be counted must be in place before the election takes place.  In Palm Beach County the law before the election was that "dimpled" chads couldn't be counted as a legal vote.  Yet, Gore and his legal eagles somehow convinced the Florida Supreme Court that they could be; hence a protracted and illegal recount.  One that still showed him as the loser.  Unable to accept this decision, Gore kept pressing forward which then led to the 5-4 decision that most people remember. 

Another big misconception was the job of Secretary of State Kathleen Harris.  She followed the letter of the law, as much as many tried to make her out as some sort of evil character hell bent on illegally handing President Bush the presidency when he didn't deserve it.  That simply is not the case.  Florida law requires the timeline of when the vote must be certified and she followed it.

The final electoral vote count was 271 to 266.  Florida counting as 25 of those.  Another thing that many on the left seem to leave out of the equation is the small pesky little fact that Gore lost his home state of Tennessee, which has 11 votes.  So, had Gore won his home state he would have Florida never would have mattered.  It wasn't Florida that gave President Bush the win, it was Gore being unable to win his home state that cost him the presidency.  Had Florida declared the state to Bush before Tennessee was announced it wouldn't have become the issue that it did.  Florida was the last ditch attempt to hold on after the news that he lost his home state had been announced.  Personally, I think if a candidate for president can't win his home state he doesn't deserve to be the title of President of the United States.  The one thing that was very enjoyable to watch during that time was the left championing states rights.  They certainly aren't interested in them now.  The reality is that even when the AP sent people to do recounts after the election had been called even they found that Bush did indeed win the count in Florida by the narrowest of margins.  As much as the left may detest this, President Bush won the presidency fair and square based on the electoral college. 

Funniest Line of the Day - Sally Quinn Edition

Sally Quinn, personal friends of Al and Tipper Gore, weighed in on the annoucement of the Gore impending divorce:

“He obviously suffered a lot and still is suffering. He'll never get over that and neither will she.”

She was referring to the losing the 2000 electoral count after winning the popular vote.  Another words, it's Bush's fault.

Al Gore Blowing Hot Air - The Frozen Gore

A 2 ton sculpture has been erected outside a liquor store in Fairbanks, Alaska.  The two businessman that had the sculpture made have been trying to get Vice President Gore to come to Alaska for a debate on man-made global warming. 

This is the second year that a sculpture has been put up.  Last year, Al Gore's people said that scheduling prevented him from coming; although a date had never been listed in the request. 

This year the sculpture is hooked up to an exhaust pipe that makes the statue look like it is blowing out hot air.  While Craig Compeau and Rudy Gavora believe that there are climate changes occuring, they question if they are indeed man-made and are questioning Al Gore's financial motives behind his theory.  Al Gore is in a position to become a billionaire with his investments in green technology.  They are also questioning the claims that polar bears numbers are dwindling, as the data now shows that the populations are increasing world wide as well Alaska.